Defender of the Week
Kate VanRooyan, Dakota State (S.D.)
Senior I Defensive Specialist I Dakota Dunes, S.D.
VanRooyan anchored Dakota State's (S.D.) back-row defense during a perfect 3-0 week in Frontier Conference play, including an upset victory over No. 7 Bellevue, handing the Bruins their first conference loss of the season.
She collected 70 digs in 11 sets, averaging an impressive 6.36 digs per set. She also contributed 14 assists and two service aces during the week.
VanRooyan opened the week with 26 digs, averaging 6.5 digs per set, in Dakota State's 3-1 victory over Bellevue on Oct. 14.
She followed with a match-high 28 digs, averaging seven digs per set, in the Trojans' 3-1 victory over Carroll (Mont.) on Oct. 16. VanRooyan closed the week with 16 digs, averaging 5.33 digs per set, in Dakota State's 3-0 sweep of Rocky Mountain (Mont.) on Oct. 17.
VanRooyan also reached another significant career milestone during the week, moving into second place on Dakota State's all-time career digs list following the victory over Carroll. She currently has 2,124 career digs.
This is VanRooyan’s first career Erck Hotels / Frontier Conference Player of the Week award.